Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has called for a formal apology from a government minister who allegedly linked him to notorious sex offender Jimmy Savile during a heated exchange over political affiliations and public morality.
Farage described the comparison as “disgraceful” and “beyond the pale,” insisting that the minister’s remarks were defamatory and completely unfounded.
“This kind of rhetoric is unacceptable in a civilised democracy,” Farage told reporters. “To invoke the name of one of the UK’s most reviled criminals in an attempt to smear a political opponent is not only reckless it demands a public apology.”
The controversy erupted during a televised panel debate in which the minister, whose identity has not been officially disclosed, reportedly made an indirect reference to Savile while discussing Farage’s political history and populist tactics.
Farage has since accused the government of enabling “character assassination” as a form of political defence amid growing public dissatisfaction.
Several Reform UK supporters have taken to social media to back their leader, demanding accountability and professional conduct from public officeholders.
As of press time, the minister in question has not issued a statement or responded to Farage’s call for an apology. However, political analysts say the episode could further heighten tensions between Reform UK and the Conservative establishment in the run-up to the next general election.